The India vs. Ireland match at New York’s Nassau County Stadium has once again highlighted concerns about the pitch’s condition. A semi-dangerous track with large cracks led to India’s skipper, Rohit Sharma, getting hit on the bicep during his fifty, forcing him to retire hurt.
Rohit Sharma Sore, But Set to Play in IND vs PAK
According to a BCCI source, Rohit Sharma is expected to be fit for the crucial IND vs. PAK match. “Rohit’s injury isn’t serious. He mentioned it’s a bit sore but should be fine for the Pakistan game. There are two practice sessions before that,” a senior BCCI source told PTI.
Despite the ongoing issues with the fresh, unused pitch, the Indian team management is not likely to file a formal complaint. “It’s a very fresh pitch with fair grass cover but also big cracks. So, it will seam and take off from length. This is like beta testing a new app; you try it out before releasing it to the market. It’s not a typical T20 wicket, and all four tracks look the same,” someone closely associated with the Indian team explained.
Poor Nassau County Pitch in T20 World Cup
“One should be glad that nothing serious happened to Rohit and Rishabh (Pant). They are fine,” the source added. Ireland’s Harry Tector also suffered, getting hit on the gloves and helmet by Jasprit Bumrah.
“Look, we definitely want to promote cricket in America, but this pitch is not safe for players. If we had a pitch like this in India, a match would never be played there again for a very long time,” Irfan Pathan commented on Star Sports.
The ICC’s initiative to bring cricket to the United States faces challenges with pitch conditions, but player safety remains a priority. As India prepares for their highly anticipated clash with Pakistan, all eyes will be on the fitness of key players and the performance of the Nassau pitch.